Cerebra's Files
Aurora
Real Name: Jeanne-Marie Beaubier Affiliation: Weapon X
Previous Affiliations: Alpha Flight
Relatives: Parents (deceased), Jean-Paul (Northstar, brother)
Alternate-X Versions: (AOA)
Codename Etymology: Pronounced ə-rôr'ə [from Latin, aurora, "dawn"]; A phenomenon occurring in the northern and southern regions of the world in which bands and streams of light are apparent in the night sky. Also, the Roman goddess of the dawn.
Powers & History: Aurora has the mutant ability to move at incredible speeds. She can fly at similar speeds, and when in contact with her brother Northstar, was able to generate a blinding light. Aurora's physical features are mostly human, except for her pointed (elfin) ears and upswept eyebrows. Beaubier also has the ability to emanate light from her body at will. She has used this light for a variety of purposes, whether to blind opponents, hypnotize them, or even in some strange way heal people. Interestingly, there are marked differences in the light generated by the Jeanne-Marie personality and the Aurora personality. Aurora is also capable of radiating a brighter light in conjunction with her brother by clasping hands with him. In recent years, Aurora has been able to generate a concussive energy blast as well, but this ability is used only rarely.
Jeanne-Marie Beaubier was an infant when her parents were killed in a car crash. Unlike her brother Jean-Paul, who was adopted by a middle-class family, Jeanne-Marie ended up in a very strict and repressive Catholic girls school. It is clear that their brutal treatment of Jeanne-Marie contributed to her eventual mental problem. After years of torturous abuse, Jeanne-Marie attempted suicide by jumping off the school roof. Luckily, her powers manifested and she saved herself by flying. The head nun, however, refused to believe her story, and beat her severely for blasphemy, leading to the creation of the personality that would become known as Aurora. Aurora promptly fled the school and entered the Canadian nightlife. Jeanne-Marie soon reasserted control and she returned to the school, eventually becoming a teacher. However, the night she was promoted to teacher, Aurora re-emerged after years of submergence and flew to Montreal to go clubbing. While there, Aurora stopped a mugger with her powers and was witnessed by Logan, who convinced Aurora to meet with James MacDonald Hudson and join Alpha Flight.
As a member of Alpha Flight, Aurora managed to split time between her two personalities: while in costume, she was Aurora, but in her civilian life she was Jeanne-Marie, still a teacher at the Catholic school. Eventually Aurora came to take over more and more, and she began a relationship with teammate Sasquatch (Dr. Walter Langkowski). This led to some bitter fights with her brother Northstar, and to Jeanne-Marie convincing Langkowski to genetically modify her powers so she would no longer be similar to Northstar. The process did indeed change Aurora's powers, though it took years for all the modifications to present themselves. Aurora also changed her costume to a yellow unitard, vastly distinct from her old (and from Northstar's) costume.
Following a battle in which "Jeanne-Marie" emerged, Aurora tried harder than ever to suppress her other persona. While trying to find the Asgardian Firefountain to heal Northstar, who had fallen ill, Aurora volunteered to stay behind with him while their comrades continued the search. In the meantime, the twins were contacted by Loki, who informed them that they were really half-elves, and that being away from their true home was causing their respective illnesses. Aurora then expended all of her light to heal Northstar, but was drained and abducted by demons. The other Alphans recovered Northstar and escaped, but sealed Puck and Aurora in the netherworld behind them. Loki then deposited the now-powerless Aurora back with the church and she became a nun.
Aurora was summoned back to Alpha Flight for a battle against Llan the Sorcerer, as Alpha Flight needed every member for the conflict. Aurora was soon beaten down and nearly eaten by demons, and Northstar tried to transfer his power to her to save her as she had done for him before. The transfer worked, and undid many of Langkowski's modifications, as the twins were again able to generate their blazing light. After the battle, Aurora decided to join Gamma Flight as a psychiatric counselor, but before she officially started she was attacked by Headlok, a mad telepath who tore Aurora's mind apart reverting her to her original split-personality.
This time, however, Aurora and Jeanne-Marie didn't fight for control, and Jeanne-Marie became an active participant in Alpha Flight. Sometime after the suspension of Alpha Flight by the governmentt Aurora began a romance with her teammate Kyle Gibney (Wild Child). When that relationship failed, Aurora acted very psychotic and even attacked Kyle with his new team X-Factor. Not long after those events Department H shut down for the third time in its history.
What Jeanne-Marie did until Department H's fourth start-up is unknown. However upon the revival of Department H Jeanne-Marie was kidnapped by Epsilon Flight troopers. She was rescued Havok, X-Man and the Brotherhood of Mutants. Aurora stayed with the Brotherhood and allowed the Dark Beast to treat her mental disorders.
After leaving the Brotherhood upon its dissolution by Havok, Aurora was once again captured by Department H and infected by the Weapon X II bacteria by Dr. Huxley. She was then rescued by Shaman, Sasquatch and Guardian, most of the original Alpha Flight. The Weapon X II bacteria had an unusual effect on Aurora's mind, in that they "ate through" her multiple personalities. The bacteria were stopped when Weapon X reclaimed them, and their full effects on Aurora remain unknown.
At the end of the Weapon X II conflict Jeanne-Marie Beaubier once again rejoined Alpha Flight, or at least the Aurora persona did. Jeanne-Marie was probably opposed to this move, but she remained a submerged presence until Alpha Flight joined Wolverine in an attempt to stop Mauvais from becoming the Wendigo. Mauvais used his magic to reassert Jeanne-Marie, which caused her to stop fighting and resulted in her being injured. Following the fight Aurora was taken to a hospital via ambulance, but the van was stopped by the new Weapon X Program and she was abducted. Weapon X treated Aurora and got her to join their team. She was again approached by a further mutated Wild Child, but she rejected him. Instead, she focused her attentions on the Director, though he was an avowed mutant-hater and his face was horribly scarred. Exactly what Aurora's motives were in pursuing the Director are still unclear, but her attentions eventually drove him to repair his face to be with her. Unfortunately, Agent Jackson subtly prodded the Director to remember his anti-mutant bias and he ended up severely beating Aurora. Still, when the Director was ousted from his position by Cable and the Underground, the Director came to see Aurora and apologized, whereupon she sped him and Madison Jefferies away with her.
Months later, Aurora was sitting in a motel in Canada, with her multiple personalities urging her to suicide to attain peace, when Northstar arrived and stopped her. Northstar was at the time under the influence of the Children, though he didn't realize it. The Children actually repaired much of Aurora's mind and upgraded her powers, allowing once again the light burst when she touched her brother, then sent them to attack the X-Men. Though the twins blasted Iceman to bits, Aurora was taken aback when she appeared to herself (courtesy of Mystique). This diversion lasted long enough for Iceman to reconstitute himself from vapor, freezing Aurora into unconsciousness. She was taken in by the X-Men and kept sedated.
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